Leonard: Cap this season with promotion

Ryan Leonard wanting to cap a great season for him personally with promotion to League 1

Ryan Leonard says he’s still got a lot more to give, and hopes he can play a big part in helping Southend United win the play-offs.

The Supporters’ Player of the Year has been delighted with his season so far, but now wants to cap it with promotion via the play-offs.

Leonard said: “The only way to make this season any better for me, in which I’ve signed a new deal, played a lot of games, been captain, scored goals and won the award from the supporters, is by winning promotion.

“It has been a big year for me but that won’t count for much unless we can win promotion. We’re all confident that is what we can do, and we’ve got the belief to make it happen.

“We’ve beaten Burton twice this season, but it’s not something we will be thinking about when we go there on Sunday because it’s a completely different environment.

“It’s just two games, and we’ve got to go to their place with new ideas but also carry on with the way we have been playing recently because it has been very good.”

Leonard has got seven goals so far this season, and he’d loved to add another one or two in the play-offs. He said: “I didn’t get a goal until November, but since then I’ve got seven which I’ve been pleased with from my position.

“I’d like to add a few more, and it’d be great to score an important goal at this stage of the season to either get us to Wembley or help us win at Wembley.”

With Sunday’s game now just three days away, the midfielder is excited about what is to come. “We’re all looking forward to it,” he said. “There is pressure, of course there is, but we have dealt with that all season and I’m sure we will do that again.

“I’m really looking forward to seeing such a big following at Burton Albion on Sunday. They’ve been fantastic all season and I’m sure they will be again. It’s great to be playing in front of such passionate supporters.”